Lately I’ve been doing some research on holiday safety tips. You might be wondering what the heck this has to do with Italian cooking, but it does. Here is the equation:
cooking + kitchen + stove + holiday craziness = potential danger
Well, okay so I’ve simplified it down just a tad. But in all seriousness, keeping your house free from accidental fires requires taking precautions. Just like washing your hands frequently prevents the spread of germs and diseases, learning how to avoid fires is key to preventing fires.
According to the National Fire Protection Agency, in 2005 the U.S fire departments dealt with 146,000 fires which involved cooking equipment. But wait till you hear this: there were 480 deaths and 4,690 injuries related to cooking fires. You can get the data here: http://www.nfpa.org/assets/files//PDF/Cookingfactsheet.pdf. Protect yourself and your family and make sure you know how to handle a fire.
The report also says that from 2002 – 2005 “unattended cooking equipment was the leading factor contributing to home cooking fires”. Wow… unattended cooking equipment. My initial reaction is, “Well, I don’t really leave the kitchen when I cook. I might scoot out for a minute or two but that’s all.” What am I saying?! Accidents happen. Do I think any of those who were involved in those stats didn’t think the same thing? Of course they were thinking the same thing… “I’ll be alright” or maybe they didn’t think at all about it. Nonetheless, if you have to leave even if for a minute, turn the stove off.
It goes on to state 2/3rds of the injuries occurred when the person/victim “tried to fight the fire themselves”. Hmm… that would be me. So what do we do when a fire occurs? Here are a few questions:
1. If something you are cooking catches on fire, what do you do?
2. If it is a grease fire, do you use baking soda, water or a fire extinguisher or other method?
3. What if the fire is spreading?
4. Have you tested your fire extinguisher in the past 5 years?
5. Have you checked the batteries in you smoke detectors within the last year?
6. Did you know fire extinguishers have expiration dates?
If you are uncertain about the first 3 questions, here are the answers according to the video by FEMA: http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/research/other/cooking/index5.shtm.
1. If the fire is a small pan fire, grab a mitt to protect your hand and cover the pan then turn off the stove. Leave it sit until cool.
2. Never pour fire on a grease fire, it will make the fire spread. Smother the fire by following the steps in step 1. Do not try to carry the pan to the sink or outside, that could fan the flames and make it worse.
3. If the fire is spreading, get everyone out of the house immediately and call 911.
Questions 4-6 are often not taken seriously. According the the USFA, you should pressure test your extinguisher after a “number of years to ensure the cylinder is safe to use.” Use the manual to make sure you test properly and safely. Regarding smoke detectors, you should check these at a minimum once a year. And of course fire extinguishers have expiry dates, check yours and replace it if needed.
I hope these tips help, I’m sure I’ll have more along the way.
Liz
Related posts:
- Tips For How to Cook Meatballs – Italian Style Tonight I made some meatballs and they turned out fantastic. I also like to make meatless meatballs which uses bulgar,...